The journey of the young Norwegian began agitated after his irregular passage through Castile. Holland refloated the illusion and the Royal Society is firing it. Expectations are never a good travel companion and the case of Martin Odegaard has not been an exception. From everything to almost nothing, and from there, to almost everything. On January 22, 2015, Madrid won a reverse casting in which the employee chose the employer, and not vice versa. After tasting the honeys of the great sports cities of middle Europe , the Norwegian opted for the capital of Spain and arrived at the white entity with 16 years. The high demands corresponding to the money disbursed by a teenager -3.4 million euros including variables that went to the coffers of the Stromsgodset - and an even more exorbitant salary -3.5 million gross per year- played against him.
Real Madrid Castilla / Real Madrid (2014-15 - 2016-17)
62 games / 5 goals / 8 assists - 2 games / 122 minutes
Despite being inscribed on the A list for the Champions League , and training with the majors, his real home was the white subsidiary : a Real Madrid Castilla coach by Zidane. The wand to measure its performance did not fit the 16 springs it added , but the crack salary that its potential, and the great negotiating skills of Hans Erik Odegaard (father of the creature), had generated. The controversies were happening week by week , since the numbers that poured in 'The Factory' did not correspond to its cache. Few goals and little impact on the game of a boy who changed gangs when the weekend came (remember that he trained with the first team). That disconnection with Castilla fueled criticism, claiming bad atmosphere among white blackbirds by the presence of Martin only when the minutes of play were distributed. As well as the aforementioned journal, which gave to speak upon arrival: "It is not that it bothers me, but I would also like to be up there and collect what they say they charge," said Sergio Aguza, captain of the time.
Despite playing regularly with Zidane, he failed to add more than two fleeting appearances with the majors (he debuted with Madrid at 16 and 157 days in a 7-3 at Getafe, a record of early league league with the club). In this way, Madrid decided that getting merengue out of the media focus and a league as tough for young people as the Second B was the best . The problem was to find a place where their associative football could shine and, in turn, be prepared for a young promise to enjoy minutes at the highest level. There appeared the Eredevisie , accustomed to polish diamonds by polishing.
Heerenveen (2016-17 - 2017-18)
43 games / 3 goals / 5 assists
Everything seemed scripted so that his arrival at the Heerenveen was the one that silenced the critical voices . Nothing could be further from the truth. A hesitant start made him visit the bench constantly. In addition, the results of the team did not accompany. Everything changed with the departure of Sam Larsson, far left of the team that signed Feyenoord in the summer of 2017 . After the first six months of the transfer (the loan was a year and a half), the Swedish's exit opened a gap in the team's half-point line , a position more in line with his football moment than the indoor one in the center of the field , in which Jurgen Streppel had been placing him.
In 2017-18 the highlights began . From the right side he was not overcome by the physical waste of rival midfielders and his football began to shine. Little by little, plays of the most haggard Odegaard arrived from the Netherlands, and the lights came on again in search of lights and not shadows. Thus came a much more prepared, 'unblinched' Odegaard with its potential intact at the end of the loan.
Vitesse (2018-19)
39 games / 11 goals / 12 assists
This passage through the Netherlands handed the keys of the white preseason to the Norwegian, but not the final squad. After participating in three summer games, his future moved away again from Santiago Bernabéu. The Heerenveen knocked on the door of the Madrid offices to renew the transfer, but the interest shown by the Vitesse coach would end up declining the balance: " I am looking for a creative 10, with pass, goal and vision of the game. Odegaard is a great player for that position. It's all this guy has . "
In this way he returned to Holland, but in the direction of Arnhem for a single season . If the videos began to drip the previous year, in the stay in their new club they came to jet . It took three games to win a starting position that he would not release, and empty statistical performances gave way to a growing significance in the game . To the great associative capacity that took him to the capital of Spain with 16 years, he had added a much more haggling version in his first loan. All this resulted in a double-double at the end of the season and in his presence in the ideal eleven of the Eredevisie ( only player beyond Ajax and PSV included). The boy who fought with men in Second B had hit the stretch.
Real Sociedad (2019-20 -?)
11 games / 2 goals / 3 assists
And of that growth they are taking advantage in San Sebastián. The Txuri Urdin team won the fight for the blond player at Bayer Leverkusen , the team most liked by the white team for the good memory of the transfer of Carvajal. A one-year loan, with a possible second in case all parties believe it appropriate.
Drammen's has landed standing in Donostia. I already predicted Illarramendi in summer: " I have seen him in five years that has changed a lot in five years, he has improved in pressure and defense, and that for a player like him is important . " That brega has already demonstrated it, being one of the best in LaLiga recovering balls in the midfield. Indisputable to Imanol Sheriff whenever he has been available: he was injured after day 11 , having played every available minute .
MVP of the first month of competition in LaLiga . In the San Sebastian team, his return is expected, after two weeks standing still, with open arms. And, whims of fate, his first game after the break would be against Real Madrid , this Saturday at the Bernabéu (9:00 pm). The stands of the white colosseum could witness the first great performance of the Norwegian in which it is hoped that, now, it will be his home for many years. The round trip ticket purchased in 2017 seems to be getting closer and closer ...
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